INTIMACY

2001

All of the controversy surrounding this film has to do with its many sex scenes, in particular, one involving UNSIMULATED oral sex...the leading man gets his weenie sucked! Actually, I've got that wrong; it's the film that sucks. "Intimacy" is nothing more than a series of explicit sex scenes, interrupted by a depresing and dreary plot, involving two characters who meet once a week to have great sex without any intimacy. The actors are very good at conveying the anguish of their characters, which makes the film even more depressing. Three questions have to be asked concerning this film: (1) why would noted Shakespearean actor Mark Rylance agree to play such an unpleasant role, (2) why would the jury of the prestigious Berlin Film Festival give its Best Film, and Best Actress Award (to Kerry Fox who performs "the act,") to this movie, and (3) why did I waste a good afternoon seeing it? Don't do the same.

2 Stars

NJB